Liverpool’s struggles can no longer be hidden by an unbeaten run

January 26, 2026 Oliver Obel

Liverpool’s collapse on the south coast did not arrive without warning. It simply arrived in stoppage time.

Bournemouth’s dramatic late winner transformed another uneven performance into a damaging defeat, reinforcing the sense that Liverpool’s problems extend beyond fatigue or fixture congestion.

Unbeaten run masks league decline

On paper, Liverpool’s recent form suggested resilience. A 13-match unbeaten run across competitions stood as the longest among Europe’s top five leagues, according to BBC Sport.

In the Premier League, however, the picture is far less convincing. The champions are now five games without a league win, having taken just four points from matches against largely lower-half opposition, Arsenal aside.

What once felt like control now looks like caution. Liverpool remain dangerous from set pieces, but their open-play attacking has grown predictable, while defensive mistakes are becoming routine rather than rare.

Bournemouth sense vulnerability

Bournemouth arrived with little momentum of their own. BBC Sport reported Andoni Iraola’s side had managed only one win in 14 matches and were dealing with significant injury issues.

Yet Liverpool’s uncertainty bred confidence. As the match progressed, Bournemouth pressed higher and took risks that might once have seemed reckless.

Alan Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, said Liverpool no longer carry the same psychological weight. “From Bournemouth's point of view, they would have looked at Liverpool and thought ‘why can't we beat them?’ Arne Slot's side look miles off the team we saw last season,” he said.

He added: “Liverpool just don't look right in all areas. They're making too many errors and are weak defensively… While they scored two goals from set-pieces, they didn't create anywhere near enough from open play.”

Errors prove costly

The decisive moments reflected those criticisms. Virgil van Dijk’s error allowed Evanilson to score the opener, a lapse that came with little external pressure. Later, confusion and indecision proved even more damaging.

When Joe Gomez went down injured, Liverpool failed to put the ball out of play, leaving themselves temporarily reduced to 10 men. Bournemouth capitalised, with Alex Jimenez finding space to score.

Slot did not deflect responsibility afterward. “I tried to scream towards them [his players] to put the ball out of play,” he said. “Maybe that sums up our season… the only ones to blame are ourselves.”

Fatigue an explanation, not a solution

Slot pointed to physical exhaustion, noting Liverpool had played away in Europe just days earlier. “I think it's safe to say a few players of ours ran out of energy,” he said.

Still, Liverpool ended the match with experienced internationals on the pitch and options unused until late. The deeper concern is repetition: this was the third time this season they have conceded a stoppage-time winner in the league, highlighting persistent game-management issues.

A shrinking margin for error

The broader implications are uncomfortable. If Arsenal defeat Manchester United this weekend, Liverpool would find themselves closer to the relegation places than the top of the table.

As Shearer suggested, qualifying for the Champions League now appears the realistic objective rather than a given. For a side that dominated domestically last season, the erosion of authority tactical, defensive, and psychological is unmistakable.

Until Liverpool rediscover that identity, reputation alone will no longer be enough.

Sources: BBC Sport